Bass Guitar Amp Buyer's Guide
Bass guitar amps are available in multiple configurations, and luckily there aren’t really any “bad” options available on the market. What’s most important is for bassists to determine how and where they’ll be using their rig, as well as what type of sound they’re aiming for. It’s critical you consider not just where and how you’ll be using your gear, but where you may be using it in the nearby future. These decisions are largely dictated by where a bassist is at in their career; a novice playing in their garage won’t have the same needs as the musician playing in theaters and arenas. Once you’ve narrowed your parameters down, you’ll be able to use the following information effectively to make an educated purchasing decision.
Solid State vs. Tube
The first major decision to make when considering a bass amplifier is whether you want a tube amp or a solid state amp.
Tube
Tube amps are a bit pricier and are obviously more fragile but many bassists prefer them for their warmer sound. A bass signal sent in “hot” (or overdriven) through a tube bass amp can also result in a slightly distorted tone, which gives a particular character to the sound.
Solid State
Solid state amplifiers are much more durable and come at a lower cost. Unfortunately, the distorted sound of an overdriven signal is not quite as good with a solid state amp; in fact, it’s a tone most bassists actively avoid.
Bass Amp Heads, Cabinets, and Hybrids
Bass rigs are typically divided into the head and the cabinet.
Heads
The head handles all of the electronic components of the amplifier, including the preamp and the power amp. In many cases, a single bass amp head contains both of these features but they can sometimes operate as separate units bassists must connect together in their setup. The pre-amp plays a crucial role in shaping your bass tone by processing and EQing the signal as its first routed into the rig and then processed through the power amp to make the processed signal even louder.
Cabinets
These are the speakers through which the sound is actually pumped out. The speaker sits inside the cabinet and is covered with a protective grill. There are a wide variety of cabinet sizes which determines how much incoming power they can handle; you’ll want to be sure that your amp head is the proper fit for the cabinet you use.
Hybrid Setups
With hybrids, the cabinet and head are combined into one single unit. These are usually a bit cheaper than going with a head + cabinet combination, and the sound quality is generally comparable. Because they’re all built into one unit, these units are usually easier to transport.
Other Bass Amp Features
Direct Output
Located on the back panel of the amp, direct output enables bassists to send their signal straight into a mixing board. This is ideal for recording situations or for when the sound has to be crafted specifically for certain scenarios, as the direct output also often has parameter controls for EQ switching and level control.
Many bass amps also come equipped with a built-in tuner, which can be a great asset for bassists who play on stage frequently. Using this feature, a bassist can switch their rig to silent so they can tune their instrument in between songs.
Tone Control
Just like guitar amplifiers, bass amps also offer tone control which allows players to tweak the frequency range of their signal to achieve the desired effect. This can include nuanced parametric EQ options, as well as options to make changes to the shape and contour of the bass tones.
Amplifier Power
Put simply, an amplifier’s power quantifies how loud the unit makes the signal of the instrument going into it. Just how much power you need in a bass amp is incumbent on what you will be primarily using the amplifier for. If you’re going to be practicing in relatively quiet and small environments, a 60-watt amp will suffice.
Because the lower frequencies of the bass require greater power in order to be audible, playing in louder environments (see: live shows) will require more power; a 200-watt amp would be a better pick for this scenario. If you’re going to be playing in both types of environments, remember that you can always turn a louder amp down, but you can’t push a smaller amp past its limit!
Number of Channels
Because bass amplifiers focus so acutely on properly processing and replicating the low frequencies of the bass guitar, they often will employ multiple channels in order to accomplish this task. By having dual channels built into the amplifier, players can apply different EQ settings to each in an effort to more meticulously craft the sound of the instrument.
Additionally, having multiple gain controls per channel also can be a great asset in finding the right amount of drive/distortion and regular clean signal. Both combo amps and head + cabinet configurations offer dual channel setups.
Portability
Bass amplifiers tend to be heavier than their regular electric guitar counterparts. If you plan on moving the amplifier around at all (whether you’re gigging regularly or taking it to rehearsal spaces), it helps to have a unit that is equipped with a sturdy handle. Wheels can also be a great help in rolling the amplifier around as necessary. Since it’s very unlikely that you’ll ever get an amplifier that doesn’t need to move at all for the entire time you own it, you definitely want to look for these features when making your purchase.
Construction
If you do intend on moving the amplifier around at all, you’ll also want to be sure that the unit is properly protected from any standard wear-and-tear. To that end, purchasing an amp that has corner protectors will prevent any incidental scratches, dents, or other various damages. Your amplifier will be handling very low frequencies transmitted from your bass guitar, so getting an amp that is made from thick wood is also a necessity, as this build is better designed to handle the vibrations.